"But what you can do is that if a community has 25% to 40% of people from ethnic minority backgrounds we ensure that the shortlist for candidates reflects that."

We have got to get more candidates from ethnic minorities selected

Peter Hain

International Development Secretary Mr Benn said he was "yet to be persuaded" that shortlists were the answer while Justice Minister Ms Harman said there needed to be four times as many ethnic minority MPs, but did not confirm whether she backed shortlists or not.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Hain, who was an anti-apartheid campaigner, said: "We have got to get more candidates from ethnic minorities selected.